There are a handful of crafts I come back to every winter because they give me that big payoff without requiring a full free Saturday, and this is one of my favorites. Starting with plain dollar store paper doilies and a simple glue-and-water mixture, you can make elegant porch lanterns that look soft, snowy, and surprisingly expensive once they’re glowing at night.
I love projects like this because they fit real life: inexpensive supplies, easy repetition, and a finished result that makes the front porch feel special the minute I switch the lights on. If you want something festive but not overly fussy, these lace snowball lanterns are a beautiful way to fill a covered porch with warm winter light.
Materials
30 white paper doilies, 10 to 12 inches wide
Instructions
1. Cover your work surface with a plastic tablecloth or wax paper, then mix the glue and water in the bowl until completely smooth and milky.
2. Blow up the 3 balloons to about 16 to 18 inches across so they read like oversized snowballs, then knot them and lightly coat the lower two-thirds of each balloon with a thin layer of petroleum jelly.
3. Soak 1 doily in the glue water for a few seconds, lift it out, gently squeeze off the excess, and smooth it onto the balloon starting at the bottom half.
4. Continue adding soaked doilies, overlapping each one by about 1 inch so there are no weak gaps; use 10 doilies per balloon for full, lace-like coverage while leaving a 3 to 4 inch opening at the top for the lights.
5. Brush a little extra glue mixture over any lifted edges, and clip stubborn sections with clothespins until the lace shell hugs the balloon smoothly.
6. Set the balloons in bowls, mugs, or deep containers to keep them from rolling, then let them dry 18 to 24 hours until the doilies are firm and no longer cool or tacky.
7. If you want extra durability for a covered porch, lightly mist the outside with clear matte sealer and let it dry completely before removing the balloons.
8. Pop each balloon with scissors near the knot, let it pull away from the dried shell, and carefully remove the balloon through the top opening.
9. Thread 6 to 8 feet of fishing line through the lace near the top of each globe, tie it securely in two spots for balance, and create a loop for hanging.
10. Coil one battery fairy light strand inside each globe, keeping the battery pack near the top opening so you can reach it easily and keep it sheltered from direct weather.
11. Hang the lanterns from porch hooks at staggered heights, about 8 to 14 inches apart, and adjust the fishing line until the globes cluster together like floating snowballs.
12. Add a simple white ribbon bow at the top of each lantern if you want a softer holiday look, then switch on the lights after dusk and check that each globe glows evenly.
Variations & Tips
For a fuller display: Make 5 or 6 smaller globes instead of 3 large ones by using water balloons or smaller party balloons and 4 to 6 doilies per lantern. I love mixing sizes because it gives that collected, designer look without much extra work.
Best glue choice: Plain white school glue dries clearer and more flexible than a lot of tacky glues for this project. If your mixture feels too thick to soak through the doilies, add 1 or 2 more tablespoons of water.
Weather note: These hold up best on a covered porch, not in open rain or snow. If your porch gets damp, definitely use the spray sealer and bring them in during storms.
How to keep them round: Don’t rush the drying time. Any time I’ve tried to remove the balloon early, the globe softened and sagged, so I always give them a full day.
Lighting tip: Use battery fairy lights only, not plug-in bulbs or anything that gets hot. Warm white looks the prettiest because it turns the white doilies into a soft ivory glow at night.
Easy hanging trick: If your porch ceiling is high, tie the fishing line first, hang the empty globe, and then tuck the fairy lights in from a step stool. It’s much easier than trying to hang a swinging lantern with the lights already inside.
Style option: For a more wintry, less holiday-specific look, skip the ribbon and hang them with plain fishing line only. They end up looking like glowing snowballs or lace ornaments, which works all the way through January.